Vipers split games on Day 1

Kensington representing P.E.I. Don Johnson Memorial Cup in Mount Pearl, N.L.

The Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers split their first two games at the 2024 Don Johnson Memorial Cup on April 24.

Veteran forward Brett Ballum scored his second goal of the third period with 16 seconds remaining in regulation time to lift the Vipers to a 4-3 win over the Kent Koyotes in Mount Pearl, N.L., in an early-afternoon game.

In the evening game, the Vipers fell 6-2 to the host Mount Pearl Blades, who improved to 2-0-0.

The Vipers met the Nova Scotia-champion Antigonish Bulldogs (1-0-0) on April 25.

The five teams will play a round-robin schedule and the top four will advance to the semifinals on April 27. The championship game will be played April 28.

BLADES 6 VIPERS 2

Evan Wicks (2), Evan Cross (1-1), Nicholas Moore, Cameron Frost and Nathan Flynn scored for the Blades, who held period advantages of 3-1 and 4-2.

Ballum and Carson Macdougall countered for the Vipers. Duncan Picketts and Luke Payne added single assists.

Winning goaltender Avery Loveless stopped 34 of 36 shots. Noah Visser blocked 31 of 37 shots for the Vipers.

VIPERS 4 KOYOTES 3

Ballum’s first goal of the game at 2:35 of the third period gave the Vipers a 3-0 lead, but the New Brunswick-champion Koyotes answered with three goals in less than four minutes to tie the game 3-3.

Clark Allain and Marshall Gallant also scored for the P.e.i.-champion Vipers, who received assists from Colby Macdonald and Carson Mackay.

Joshua Brehault, Mathieu Poirier and Julien Leblanc found the back of the net for the Koyotes.

The Vipers held period leads of 1-0 and 2-0.

Josh Smith turned aside 36 of 39 shots to earn the goaltending win. Kent goaltender Zachary Leblanc stopped 30 of 34 shots.